The Major League Soccer that Carlos Bocanegra left behind after the 2003 season is definitely not the same league he found upon his return this year after nearly a decade in European soccer.

After being drafted fourth overall in the 2000 SuperDraft out of UCLA, the defender immediately established himself as a starter and had an impact with the Chicago Fire that made it all the way to the MLS Cup title match, while also earning Rookie of the Year honors.

Bocanegra would go on to claim Defender of the Year on two occasions and eventually take his talents to the English Premier League. After competing with the U.S. Men’s National Team in two World Cups and successful stints with five different clubs in the old continent, the Southern California native made the decision to return to the league that gave him his professional start – a league that has indeed flourished since he first helped grow the world’s game on the U.S. circuit.

“When I left there were [10] teams, and now we’re close to 20,” Bocanegra said. “So it’s grown considerably. Almost all the teams have their own stadiums, the fan bases have grown and the support has grown not only in the stadiums but within the community and the cities, so I feel like soccer has really become part of the American sports scene.”

With a successful run in the English, French, Scottish and Spanish football, as well as over 100 caps with the national team, the center back says that there was not much of an adjustment curve in terms of style of play when he made his first few starts for Chivas USA.

“Everywhere you go you have to adapt a little bit. Whether you’re in England and the refs don’t call many fouls at all or you’re in Spain and they call a little more fouls than you’re used to. You just adapt, and that comes fairly easy. Every single player has to do it around the world.

“I knew the league was physical and I knew it’s an athletic league, but it kind of exceeded my expectations on how cool the stadiums were, how good the support was at the stadiums that we went to. The quality of the league has improved, some of the players that have come over and been a part of it. All those things were really nice to see and it’s great to see that the league is going in the right direction.”

No matter what league, though, Bocanegra says that the blueprint for what makes a successful team is a solid core of players with experience and games under their belt, along with a few difference-makers on the pitch.

For the Rojiblancos, the hiring of Head Coach Jose Luis Real to implement a style of play and lay the foundation with the young and experienced talent on the club is a step in that direction heading into the off-season and later the 2014 season. As one of the most decorated and successful players in the U.S. circuit, Bocanegra will surely be a key figure in helping that young core to continue developing.

“We have quite a young team and a few times on the field this year our average age was 23, 24, which is by far the youngest among any other team in the league, so maybe as a veteran player I have to bring leadership. There are a few other guys, Dan [Kennedy], Bobby [Burling], that have been around the league and know what it’s all about. But a lot of the younger guys, whether they come from international places or they’re just out of college, it’s tough. It’s different seasons, it’s a grind, a lot of travel and there are a lot of variables that go into it,” Bocanegra concluded.

With 12 games under his belt with the Red-and-White, the center back began taking on a more vocal role on the pitch while anchoring the backline. Together with Kennedy, Burling and striker Erick Torres, who joined Chivas USA at the same time, along with solid corps of talented midfielders, the Rebaño appears to be solidifying the vertebrae of the squad, that will aim to be reinforced during the offseason as they look to build on Real’s foundation.